Goal Setting The Key To Success and a good companion to Industriousness STRIVE December/January Focus M. Brian Kopp Gateway Charter High School Grades 6-12

No One Plans To Fail, But Many Fail to Plan High School Senior- Jim Jim is the kind of student that never really thought much about his future. He turned in some of his assignments, but didn’t study or work hard in school. Jim just wanted to have fun and goof off. He viewed school as a prison; something to be endured. High School Senior- Mary Mary is a hard working student who earns mostly A’s and a few B’s. She started planning for college when she was in middle school. Mary took time every week to plan her schoolwork, involvement in sports and other activities.

No One Plans To Fail, But Many Fail to Plan High School Senior- Jim Jim’s senior year is filled with regrets. He knows his friends will be going off to college without him. He wishes he could start high school all over again. His lack of planning and foresight has left him with fewer options than his peers. High School Senior- Mary Mary started studying for her ACT and SAT 1 year before taking them. Mary has already received 3 letters of acceptance to some of the best schools in FL. Mary is continuing to plan for her life in college and beyond.

Benefits of Goal Setting You… –are more enthusiastic and motivated –use your mind and talents fully –have more purpose and direction in life –make better decisions –are more organized and effective –do more for yourself and others –have greater confidence and self-worth –accomplish uncommon feats

What are your dreams? Take 5-10 minutes to write down everything you want to do, be, or have. Take your time. Write it ALL down. Consider: –Travel/Vacations (where and how) –Automobile (kind, color, and options) –Career (salary, position) – Friendship (respect, helping others) – Education (degrees, fields)

7 Steps to Goal Setting 1.Identify your goal or objective and write it down. 2.Set a deadline for achieving the goal. Take a few moments and anticipate the amount of time you expect it will take to achieve this goal. 3.Identify obstacles and list them. 4.Write down all of the people, groups, and organizations you will need to help you achieve your goals. 5.List what you will need to know in order to achieve your goals. 6.Develop a specific plan of action. 7.List the benefits of achieving your goal (or what’s in it for you).

Self Evaluation One key to achieving your goals is to make certain that they are in balance with all areas of your life. All too often, people focus on just one area to the exclusion of the other six areas. Balance is a key to success. Evaluate yourself on a scale of 1 – 5 in these areas, 5 being the highest.

Self Evaluation PHYSICAL (medical check-ups, exercise programs, weight control, nutrition) FAMILY (listening habits, forgiving attitude, time together, supportive of others, respectful, and loving) FINANCIAL (savings and college fund) SOCIAL (sense of humor, listening habits, self-confidence, manners, caring, friendships) SPIRITUAL (inner peace, sense of purpose) MENTAL (imagination, attitude, reading, sense of well being and curiosity) ACADEMICS (grades, love of learning, homework completion)

Identifying Goals Review the six areas of your SELF EVALUATION. Identify areas that you need to work on and set specific goals for these areas. Next, review your DREAM SHEET. Itemize only those goals you really want to achieve. Finally, combine both the areas you identified on your SELF EVALUATION and the specific goals on your DREAM SHEET. Select 2 goals from this new list to work on every day. (Follow the 7 Steps to Goal Setting outlined above) Then, evaluate your goals weekly.

Goals Checklist: 5 Critical Questions 1.Is this really my goal? 2.Is it morally right and fair to all parties involved? 3.Are my short range goals consistent with my long range goals? 4.Can I commit myself emotionally to completing this project? 5.Can I visualize myself reaching this goal?

Final Thoughts Zig Ziglar, an expert on goal setting, offers these words of wisdom. –“You’ve got to be before you can do, and do before you can have.” –“If you do the things you ought to do when you ought to do them, then you’ll have the time to do the things you want to do when you want to do them.” –“Motivation literally follows action.” –“When you are tough on yourself, life will be infinitely easier on you.” –“What you get by reaching your goals is infinitely less than what you’ll become by reaching them.”